Quick Tex-Mex tray with crispy chips, melted cheeses, seasoned beef, and fresh, colorful toppings baked to perfection.
# What you need:
→ Protein
01 - 1/2 lb ground beef (or ground turkey or plant-based mince)
→ Spices
02 - 1 tsp chili powder
03 - 1/2 tsp ground cumin
04 - 1/2 tsp smoked paprika
05 - 1/2 tsp garlic powder
06 - 1/2 tsp onion powder
07 - 1/4 tsp salt
08 - 1/4 tsp black pepper
→ Base
09 - 7 oz tortilla chips (about 1 large bag, certified gluten-free if required)
→ Cheese
10 - 2 cups shredded cheddar cheese
11 - 1 cup shredded Monterey Jack cheese
→ Toppings
12 - 1 medium tomato, diced
13 - 1/2 small red onion, finely chopped
14 - 1 small jalapeño, thinly sliced (optional)
15 - 1/4 cup canned black beans, drained and rinsed
16 - 1/4 cup canned sweet corn, drained
17 - 2 tbsp sliced black olives (optional)
18 - 2 tbsp chopped fresh cilantro
→ To Serve
19 - Sour cream, salsa, and guacamole
# How to make it:
01 - Set oven to 400°F and line a large rimmed baking sheet with parchment paper or foil.
02 - In a skillet over medium-high heat, cook ground beef, breaking it up, until browned and cooked through, about 5–6 minutes. Drain excess fat if needed.
03 - Stir in chili powder, ground cumin, smoked paprika, garlic powder, onion powder, salt, and black pepper. Cook for another minute until fragrant, then remove from heat.
04 - Spread tortilla chips evenly on the prepared baking sheet. Layer evenly with seasoned beef, black beans, and corn.
05 - Sprinkle shredded cheddar and Monterey Jack cheeses uniformly over the assembled toppings.
06 - Place the tray in the oven and bake for 8–10 minutes until cheese is melted and bubbling.
07 - Remove from oven and immediately top with diced tomato, chopped red onion, jalapeño slices, black olives, and fresh cilantro.
08 - Serve hot with sour cream, salsa, and guacamole on the side.
